20 BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 



connected with the secretion of honey or not, 

 serves as a protection to the stamens, folding up 

 regularly at night, to protect them from the 

 influences of the weather. 



L. But some, like the bluebells, cannot fold 

 up. 



E. There is no need for them to do so, their 

 protection is equally efficacious, as covering 

 them in the manner they do, .they serve the 

 purposes of a bell glass, screening them from 

 injurious influences, as the glass does the fancy 

 clock in the parlor. 



L. I should think if the corolla folded up 

 to shelter the stamens at night it would do the 

 same in stormy weather, they need it as much 

 then as at any other time, perhaps more. 



E. You are right, it should fold up at such 

 times, and it accordingly does do this. From 

 the circumstance of its closing before a storm. 

 and thus foretelling the approach of one, they 

 are often used as weather prophets. That 

 little flower below us is the Scarlet Pimper- 

 nel, better known to you, perhaps, as the 

 Weather -Glass ; when it does not open in the 

 morning the people stay at home and prepare 

 for rain, and they do this if there is not at the 



